KCW Day 4 & Bonus Pleated Kids Knit Skirt Tutorial

I am super sorry about the quality of the pictures in this tutorial, but the lighting in my house was terrible today. We had some snow in central Ohio and the sky has been super overcast. I hate to admit it but this is an (mostly) iphone post in terms of the tutorial. I know, I know I am sorry people! :(

 

 I haven't done a tutorial in a few months and thought I better get back on the wagon and put something together for you lovely readers... AND its Kids Clothes Week. Perfect timing.

 

This is the look for today.... for KCW


 

And this is the look with the skirt I am going to show you how to make. I have to say it turned out cute but not as short and tight as I wanted it. All the better though I guess... I don't want to be putting my 6 year old in a skin tight animal print skirt! He he he.

 

Do ya wonder why I chose a thermal knit for Miss Hannah today? Well her "blankie" since she was just a few days old is made from a light pink thermal knit. She has a total connection to the

stuff, so when I saw that Girl Charlee had some of this in a cute black/white bow print, I had to have some!

 

The skirt is another story. I bought this fabric from Denver Fabrics thinking it would be soft and somewhat sweater-y--- (perfect for a Bimaa Sweater.) BOY WAS I WRONG. This stuff is that scratchy jersey knit I don't like, honestly I don't know what is really called.... but for the purposes of this skirt, (and some leggings I made myself from it), it worked just fine.

 

On to the TUTORIAL!

 

 

First, I just want to say I really kinda winged it with this one. I wanted a cute simple skirt for Han to wear with her latest Bimaa Sweater. The skirt is really just 2 rectangles cut to the size listed below. Super simple folks

  

 

Materials:

about a 1/2 yard of your favorite knit with good stretch

Scissors

Sewing Machine

Thread

Ballpoint needle

* Note: I did not use any elastic or buttons or a zipper. The stretch in the band of the skirt is enough to hold this cute little skirt up.

 

Here are the measurements I used for about a size 7/8 (but it turned out too big I think)

Band: 21 inches x 3 inches

Skirt: 13 inches long x 44 wide

 

Step One: Take the short ends of the skirt piece and sew a French seam down the side.
 

 

What that means is, wrong sides together, trim excess seam allowance, and then sew right sides together.

 

 

This will encase the raw edges of the fabric. I most often use it when I am sewing with quilters cotton, but you can use it on knits too.

 

Step 3: Pleat the front of the skirt as you would like it to lay. I did one large pleat but you could do a few small ones. Once you have it how you like it pin, and stay stitch it in place.

 

 

Step 4: Take the top band of your skirt piece and sew right sides together. Once it is sewed together you will fold the top of the band down to meet the raw edge of the other side. You will be putting the wrong sides together. (Note* the band will be smaller than the top of your skirt, but this is correct) You want the top band to be smaller so you can stretch it to fit on the base of the skirt. The top band will act as elastic.

 

 

 

Step 5: Attach the skirt band to the top of your skirt. Line up your seams and start in the back of the skirt. I like to pin all three layers here and start to sew... pulling the band very taut while letting the skirt part flow through the machine naturally. You only want to pull on the band.

 

 

Step 6: Flip the band up and you are done!  

 

 I have mixed emotions about this skirt.... it came out a little big for the look I was going for, but like I said earlier I kinda just winged it.  Cut; and started sewing not thinking too much about measurements... I think Hannah will definitely wear it... probably just not this fall season.

So since I didn't like the skirt that much I stuck a pair of bright yellow jean shorts on her from Target that I think I got for like 5.99. I think they look adorable with the sparkly leggings and her thermal Bimaa Sweater.
  

 

 

This is really the "punk" look I was going for. 

 

 

She is so serious these days. 

 

 

She even asked me if she could sleep with this shirt! This kid is too funny! I think that's enough permission to buy more thermal knit!

 

XOXO- L

Kids Clothes Week - Day 2

Ok first off, this is my first time signing up for KCW, (KIDS CLOTHES WEEK) and wow what a gorgeous little website these folks have! I love it!

 

I have to say I didn't intend on posting anything until I realized I had a ton of projects I was working on that I have not blogged about, that would be perfect for this week, AND- I sewed them this week.... well almost all of them! - Motivation in full swing folks!

 

On to the good stuff.
 

 

First let me say this post has 2 projects in it. Its a two-fer! Reason being is that it is difficult to get  individual pictures of my girls. Well, let me re-phrase that, its difficult to get individual pictures of my little Emmie, - she's 16 months.

'nuf said.

 

Exhibit A:
(oldest is in perfect model mode, and youngest can't stand still.)
 

 

Exhibit B:

 (total 'tude from the little one)
 

Anyways, onto the project. My main motivation for these two pieces was:

1) Hannah needed a new trendy shirt for her uncles wedding in November. The wedding is going to be held in "hipster central", aka, Austin Texas. I figured a cute trendy knit print would suit this need perfectly.

 2) Emmie needed a new long sleeve shirt!.

The flowy yet structured design of the skipper top was perfect for this. I have been leaving out the pocket detail in the last few of these I have made. I think it is just as cute, if not cuter without it. I also didn't have quite as much fabric as I needed for this top to be on the longer side so I shortened it and also added a skinnier band around the bottom. It came out super cute and will also go well with skinny jeans and a jean jacket for the plane ride. Ikat has to be perfect for Austin, right?

Pattern: Skipper Top
By:Sewmuchado
Sewn by: Oddsofpink
Fabric used: GirlCharlee Knit can be found here (they may not have this exact print anymore but have tons of other options just like it!)

As far as Emmies top, I did make a Bimaa in my last post but this one is a bit different. I used the shawl collar option in a really cute animal print that I picked up from Hobby Lobby. (Advice/Side note: Don't waste your money on this fabric- Its kinda crappy....I won't be using this fabric in the future.) It didn't have quite as much stretch as a Bimaa needs. Unfortunately, I think Emmie will only be able to wear it a few times until she grows out of it. I even sized this one up for her, but this knit is coarse and not as stretchy as most knits. Still looks darn cute though!



Pattern: Bimaa Sweater
By: LouBeeClothing
Sewn by: Odds of Pink
Fabric: Animal Print knit from Hobby Lobby


 Both pieces came out adorable and they are SO wearable this fall/winter season. I love these patterns and they are so worth the money! If you are thinking about purchasing them, do it, you won't regret it.
 

 

You all know I love a good black and white photograph.......

 

 

 

 

Hannah is SUCH a good big sister! Always willing to lend a helping hand!

 

 

 

That's all folks! 

 

 Thanks for reading and don't forget to leave a comment if you choose. I adore reading your comments and love making new friends in the blog world!

 

Happy Sewing!

 

xoxo- L

 

 

 

Bimaa Sweater

Well hello there!

 

I haven't seen you lovelies for a while!
 I am glad to jump right in today with my new favorite pattern!

The Bimaa Sweater pattern by LouBeeclothing.

 

 

 

I purchased the pattern from a little etsy shop along with the Doli Tank pattern. I was going to go ahead and get the sew fab bundle of patterns but I decided that I didn't need like 29 patterns so I went ahead and got just the ones I didn't have anything like in my stash.

 

Lately I have been totally addicted to knits, there are so many new knit prints out there, and wow are they awesome. I have to say, I really get disappointed in the clothing options at Carters, Osh Kosh, and the things Target carries. Not to mention, your kid ends up looking like everyone else when you shop there. Ok maybe that is being too harsh on those retailers. I guess I just prefer making my own trendy stuff for my kids and only paying the cost of fabric. And how cool is it that when you sew you get control over every little detail, you also get to tell people, "YES! I made that!"

 

 

On to the pattern.... It is really a great fit, and such a cute design. I made one in a size 2t for my little 16 month old Emmie, and then I made a 6t (but sized up a bit) for my 6 year old Hannah.  Both of them fit the girls really well, the 2t sleeves were a tad long on E, so on Hannah's I shortened them. She is a big artist and she needs them shorter anyways, artists are always rolling their sleeves up!

 

 

 

The only part I didn't like about the pattern was cutting all the pieces out. But that is just my personal pickiness, and couldn't be avoided. I don't like the cutting stage of any project really. I love to choose the fabric, sew, style and photograph... cutting isn't my fav. There are quite a few pieces to the pattern too- 2 sleeves, 2 cowls, front, back, and then the binding for the sleeves and bottom of shirt - 9 total- BUT it is totally worth it for the cuteness that comes from it. Sarah of LoubeeClothing Patterns really did a great job of putting this adorable top together. Oh - did I mention there isn't just a cowl option but a collar, and a hood option? TOTAL SCORE! It is like 3 patterns in one. AND, if you are a little more advanced, you can also make each of these sleeveless, just add binding and leave out the sleeves. With different fabric choices, this pattern can last you all year long! 

 

 

 

All in all I LOVED IT! I will definitely be using it again.   

 

 

Have a great rest of your weekend all!